Truck trailer with movable side panel

Abstract

In the case of a truck trailer with a loading floor and rear wheels, and with a side panel that is arranged lower than the loading floor on the longitudinal side of the trailer and extends longitudinally to in front of the rear wheels, the invention proposes that the side panel has an upper section and a lower section, wherein the lower section is movable between a driving position, which is intended for the driving operation of the trailer, and a loading position in such a way that the lower section can be moved from its driving position further inwards and / or upwards into its loading position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a truck trailer with a loading floor and rear wheels, as well as with a side panel which is arranged lower than the loading floor on the longitudinal side of the trailer and extends longitudinally to in front of the rear wheels.

[0002] Truck trailers are pulled by a truck tractor. When designed as semi-trailers, they have only rear wheels, on one or more rear axles. Depending on the design, however, they can also be equipped with a front axle and, accordingly, front wheels and a drawbar. A body serves to hold the load. This body can be a box body with a rigid enclosure or a curtainsider with a flexible side wall, which can, for example, consist of a truck tarpaulin. Hereafter, truck trailers will also be referred to simply as trailers or trailers.

[0003] To improve the aerodynamics of the trailer, it is known to arrange side panels on the longitudinal sides of the trailer, extending downwards, for example, from the loading floor or from a vehicle frame running at the level of the loading floor.

[0004] Trailers typically feature side underrun protection extending along both sides of the trailer and projecting downwards below the body – for example, below a flat loading floor. This side underrun protection is typically designed as a grid and consists of horizontal struts held in place by upright brackets. The side paneling can cover the side underrun protection to the outside, providing an aerodynamic advantage. It can also be recessed inwards below the side underrun protection, towards the longitudinal center axis of the trailer. This is not only aerodynamically advantageous but also helps prevent collisions with forklifts. The primary concern here is not so much the potential collisions with the forklift's forks, but rather the possibility that the housing might, for example, be damaged by the forklift's forks.a forklift truck can hit the side paneling if the forklift truck approaches or moves away from the loading floor in an arc.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of enabling the most economical operation of the truck trailer by ensuring that the aerodynamically advantageous side paneling, which extends far downwards, is protected as safely as possible from damage.

[0006] Features according to the invention are specified in claim 1. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention proposes that the side panel has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being movable between a driving position, intended for the operation of the trailer, and a loading position, such that the lower section can be moved further inwards and / or upwards from its driving position into its loading position. The side panel can be arranged in front of the rear wheel of the trailer or behind it. If a side panel is arranged both in front of and behind the rear wheel, it is advantageous for both to be designed according to the invention in order to provide the trailer with the best possible aerodynamics and to ensure the best possible protection of the side panels.

[0008] In other words, the invention provides that the lower section of the side panel assumes a specific position – namely its so-called driving position – in which it aerodynamically extends the side panel downwards and projects further downwards than its upper section. This is intended for when the trailer is in motion. However, when the trailer is being loaded or unloaded and is therefore not in motion, the lower section of the side panel can be moved from its driving position to a better protected loading position, in which it is positioned either further inwards, towards the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle, and / or further upwards than in its driving position.

[0009] For example, the mobility of the lower section can be achieved by suspending it on a hinge and pivoting mount, allowing it to pivot from a vertical downward-hanging driving position, for example, both inwards and simultaneously upwards to a horizontal loading position. Alternatively, the lower section can be suspended from one or more drawbars and raised from its lower driving position to a correspondingly higher loading position. If this is not obstructed by components of the trailer, the lower section can also be designed to move at essentially the same height in the direction of the trailer's longitudinal center axis, or to move both inwards and upwards.

[0010] In the aforementioned pivoting movement, the lower section of the side panel moves along a predetermined path, even if the pivot axis remains stationary, e.g., along the upper edge of the lower section. For other types of movement, such as the movements mentioned above, the lower section can be guided along a defined path, for example, by means of guide profiles that run along this path, with guide elements of the lower section being movable along the guide profiles. For example, guide pins can engage with the guide profiles, or guide claws can grip the outside of the guide profiles.

[0011] The ability to move the lower section of the side panel from the driving position to the loading position reduces the likelihood of damage to the lower section by forklifts during loading or unloading operations. This is particularly relevant for so-called truck-mounted forklifts, which are transported as part of the load on the trailer and whose front wheels, depending on their design, can extend far forward below the forks, creating a particularly high risk of collision with a lower section of the side panel when approaching the trailer's loading platform.

[0012] To move the lower section between the driving and loading positions, the necessary force can be applied manually, for example, by means of a cable or crank drive, or similar mechanism. Appropriate gear ratios in the drive train can minimize the required operating forces, but this necessitates a longer travel distance or a higher number of revolutions when operating the drive, and consequently, more time. Alternatively, the truck trailer can be designed so that the lower section is moved between the driving and loading positions with external power assistance. In this way, the force required to move the lower section does not have to be applied solely by a person; rather, the force is provided at least partially, or possibly even entirely, by external means, such as an electric motor, pneumatic system, or hydraulic system.

[0013] The movement of the lower section of the side panel can be initiated manually. Alternatively, if the lower section is mechanically assisted, the truck trailer can be designed so that the lower section moves automatically between the driving and loading positions via sensors. For example, a sensor already present on the trailer or tractor unit can be used, such as a speed sensor or a sensor from a brake anti-lock braking system (BAS). This allows the control electronics to automatically detect that the trailer is moving. The control electronics can then automatically activate the necessary external force to move the lower section of the side panel from the loading position to the driving position.This ensures that the aerodynamic advantages of the side fairing are fully utilized and that the lower section does not accidentally remain in its loading position while driving.

[0014] If the lower section is automatically movable with external power assistance and sensor control, the truck trailer can be designed to carry a forklift and has a receptacle for the forklift, as well as a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the forklift in the receptacle. Damage that could be caused by the forklift to the lower section of the side panel can be reliably prevented by automatically moving the lower section into its loading position as soon as the forklift is removed from its receptacle. Likewise, the lower section can automatically move into the aerodynamically advantageous driving position as soon as the sensor detects that the forklift is in its receptacle.

[0015] The truck trailer can be configured so that the actuating elements required for moving the lower section are designed in such a way that the lower section must be in the driving position to enable the truck trailer to be driven. The aforementioned trailer configuration with a sensor and a lower section that is exclusively externally operated and automatically movable ensures this. However, even in the case of manual operation of the lower section, it can be advantageous for the most energy-efficient driving operation to ensure that the lower section is in its aerodynamically advantageous driving position while driving.

[0016] To ensure this, an element such as an actuating element in the form of a crank, lever, or the like, or an obstruction attached to the lower section, such as a rod, a tab formed on the lower section, or the like, can be designed in such a way that this element prevents the trailer from being driven when the lower section is in its loading position. For example, the element can conceal electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or other connections by which the trailer must be connected to a towing vehicle to enable the trailer to be driven.Or the element requires, for the movement of the lower section, that a connection between the trailer and the towing vehicle necessary for driving operation must be disconnected, so that this connection can only be restored and driving operation of the trailer made possible after the lower section of the side panel has been moved from its loading position back into the driving position.

[0017] The truck trailer can be designed in such a way that the lower section can be locked in its driving position using locking devices. This ensures that the lower section cannot be moved from its aerodynamically desired position solely by external influences such as wind, turbulence, or other factors, but can only be deliberately removed from it after the locking devices have been released.

[0018] The locking devices can be designed to be manually operated, for example as pivotable or longitudinally sliding bolts, by means of which the lower section can be immovably fixed to adjacent components of the trailer when it is in its driving position.

[0019] The locking devices can be designed to engage automatically, for example in the form of a snap lock or latch, so that locking occurs automatically when the lower section has assumed its travel position. Manual operation of these locking devices is only required to release the lower section and move it into its loading position.

[0020] The locking devices can also be designed to be fully automatic, e.g., in the form of springs, such as tension or compression springs, and in particular, gas springs. The springs can advantageously be articulated in a manner similar to an over-center kinematic system, so that in both directions of movement, after overcoming a dead center, they assume a stable end position in both the loading and driving positions, reliably holding the lower section of the side panel in its respective position.

[0021] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in a variety of ways. All features and advantages arising from the claims and the description, including design details, spatial arrangements and process instructions, can be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations.

Claims

1. Truck trailer, with a loading floor and rear wheels, and with side paneling that is positioned lower than the loading floor on the longitudinal side of the trailer and extends longitudinally to in front of the rear wheels, characterized by that the side panel has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section being movable between a driving position, which is intended for the driving operation of the vehicle trailer, and a loading position in such a manner as that the lower section can be moved further inwards and / or upwards from its driving position into its loading position.

2. Truck trailer according to claim 1, characterized by that The lower section is movable between the driving position and the loading position with external power assistance.

3. Truck trailer according to claim 2, characterized by thatThe lower section is automatically moved between the driving position and the charging position by sensor control.

4. Truck trailer according to claim 3, characterized by that the truck trailer is equipped to carry a forklift and has a receptacle for the forklift, as well as a sensor designed to detect the presence or absence of the forklift in the receptacle.

5. Truck trailer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that The actuating elements required for the movement of the lower section are designed in such a way that the lower section must be in the driving position to enable the driving operation of the truck trailer.

6. Truck trailer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that The lower section can be locked in its driving position using locking devices.

7. Truck trailer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the lower section runs further inwards, towards the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle trailer, than the upper section of the side paneling.

Images